Tens of thousands of fans gathered at a venue just off Red Square today to listen to the Pet Shop Boys and Russian rock bands perform in Moscow’s Live 8 concert to raise awareness of African poverty.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined hands to form a human band around Scotland’s capital today in protest at world poverty.

The U2 and Sir Paul McCartney Live 8 performance of ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ has been rushed out on general release.

From the Afro-Cuban melodies of Senegal’s Baobab Orchestra to the funky rhythms of South Africa’s Mahotella Queens, African musicians lent their voices today to Live 8’s global call for a fairer deal for the world’s poorest continent.

More people than expected turned out today to demand action on world poverty at one of Scotland’s biggest ever demonstrations.

Final preparations are continuing today ahead of the Live 8 concert in London which is expected to draw more than 200,000 people to Hyde Park tomorrow.

US president George Bush, urging new help for Africa before an international meeting focused on its problems, said he wanted to double aid to the troubled continent over five years.

Rocker Sheryl Crow has been forced to pull out of plans to appear at the Paris, France Live 8 show this weekend due to a scheduling conflict.

Rock campaigner Bob Geldof has axed himself off the playlist for Saturday's Live 8 gigs, because he doesn't sell enough records to justify sharing the stage with superstars Madonna, Paul McCartney and U2.

Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, Josh Groban, Def Leppard and Toby Keith have been added to the line-up of Saturday’s Live 8 concert in Philadelphia.

The ongoing will they, won’t they Spice Girls saga has taken another turn with claims Mel B is playing spoilsport and blocking the Live 8 reunion.

Status Quo today pleaded with Bob Geldof to let them perform at Live 8.

Bob Geldof has revealed that further concerts are to take place in Tokyo, Toronto and Johannesburg next month as part of the Live 8 extravaganza.

Hip-hop star 50 Cent has dropped out of performing at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia next month, because it clashes with work on his debut movie, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.

One hundred music fans are being offered the chance to go to both UK Live 8 concerts this summer, described as the “hottest combined ticket in the world”.

Bob Geldof has welcomed a decision by online auction site eBay to ban the sale of Live 8 concert tickets from its website.